FLOWING FORCE, CONSOLIDATING FORCE AND INTERNAL FORCE
Dragon Strength< is excellent for both flowing force and consolidating force
Question
Is there a difference between developing flowing and consolidated force and building internal force?
-- Sifu Barry Smale, England
Answer
Both developing flowing force and developing consolidated force build internal force. There is a difference in the methods of building internal force:
- Using only flowing force to build internal force.
- Using only consolidating force to build internal force.
- Using both flowing force and consolidating force to build internal force.
There is also some difference when we vary the proportion of flowing force and consolidating force when using both flowing force and consolidating force in building internal force. For example, there is a difference between the internal force of the Flower Set where there is more flow than consolidating, and the internal force of Triple Stretch where there is more consolidating than flow.
Yes, there is a difference between developing flowing force and developing consolidated force. When developing flowing force, the method involves movement, like Pushing Mountains and Grasping Sparrow's Tail. When developing consolidated force, the method involves static posture, like Golden Bridge and Cosmos Stance.
Relatively, practicing flowing force is more relaxing and the risk of harmful side-effects is less. Practicing consolidated force is relatively more demanding and the risk of harmful side effects is more. The force developed in consolidated force is generally stronger, but it is more localized, whereas that of flowing force is less but more spread out.
Force training methods like One-Finger Shooting Zen and Double Dragons Emerge from Sea are both flowing and consolidated. The proportion may vary, but generally that in One-Finger Shooting Zen is 60% flowing and 40% consolidated, and that in Double Dragons Emerge from Sea is 40% flowing and 60% consolidated.
In Yang Style Taijiquan it is 100% flowing, and in Horse-Riding Stance it is 100% consolidated. Although Iron Wire uses movement, the force is also 100% consolidated in the orthodox method. The movement is physical and not flowing energy. However, because we know chi flow, we are able to perform Iron Wire with some flowing force.
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